Other Ways to Say “In My Spare Time”: A Comprehensive Guide

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“In my spare time” is a common phrase used to introduce hobbies, interests, or side activities—but it can sound repetitive or overly casual, especially in resumes, bios, or formal writing. Choosing a more refined or engaging alternative can make your message feel smoother and more polished.

Try saying “During my free time,” “Outside of work,” or “When I’m not working” to vary your tone and match your audience. This guide explores a variety of ways to say “in my spare time” that work well in professional contexts, personal writing, and casual conversation.

Table of Contents

Definition of “In My Spare Time”

The phrase “in my spare time” refers to the period when someone is not working or engaged in other obligatory activities, such as school, chores, or appointments. It denotes the time available for leisure, relaxation, hobbies, or any activity chosen freely by the individual.

Classification: “In my spare time” is an adverbial phrase, as it modifies the verb by providing information about when the action takes place. Its function is to indicate the temporal context of an activity. The phrase is generally interchangeable with other similar adverbial phrases.

Contexts: This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversations, written communication, and formal settings to describe personal interests and activities outside of work or other responsibilities. It’s a versatile expression suitable for a wide range of situations, from casual chats with friends to professional introductions.

Structural Breakdown

Ways to In My Spare Time

The phrase “in my spare time” follows a simple structure: preposition + possessive pronoun + adjective + noun.

  • Preposition: “In” indicates a time frame.
  • Possessive Pronoun: “My” refers to the speaker’s ownership of the time.
  • Adjective: “Spare” describes the time as being extra or available.
  • Noun: “Time” refers to the general concept of duration.

Understanding this structure helps in identifying other similar phrases that can be used interchangeably. For instance, phrases like “during my free time,” “when I have some time off,” or “on my days off” follow a similar pattern of indicating a specific period available for leisure.

Types and Categories of Alternative Expressions

There are several ways to express the idea of “in my spare time,” each with its own nuance and suitability for different contexts. These can be broadly categorized based on their level of generality, the specific activities they describe, or the time of day they refer to.

General Free Time Activities

These phrases are used to describe activities without being too specific about the exact time or frequency. They simply indicate that the activity is done during one’s free moments.

Specific Hobbies and Interests

These expressions highlight the particular hobbies or interests pursued during free time. They provide more detail and allow for a more vivid description of one’s leisure activities.

Time of Day Specific Activities

These phrases specify the time of day when the activities are typically performed. This can add context and clarity to the description of one’s routine.

Occasional Activities

These describe activities that are not part of a regular routine but are done from time to time when the opportunity arises. They emphasize the sporadic nature of the activity.

Routine Activities

These expressions refer to activities that are done regularly as part of a person’s free-time routine. They highlight the consistent nature of the activity.

Examples

To illustrate the various ways to express “in my spare time,” here are several examples categorized by the types discussed above. Each example demonstrates how the alternative phrase can be used in a sentence to convey the same meaning as “in my spare time” but with slightly different nuances.

General Examples

The following table provides examples of general phrases used to describe activities done during one’s free time. These phrases are versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts.

Alternative Phrase Example Sentence
In my free time In my free time, I enjoy reading novels and watching documentaries.
When I have time When I have time, I try to catch up with friends and family.
During my leisure time During my leisure time, I like to explore new hiking trails in the mountains.
In my downtime In my downtime, I often listen to music or practice meditation.
When I’m not working When I’m not working, I volunteer at the local animal shelter.
On my days off On my days off, I usually sleep in and then go for a long walk.
When I get a chance When I get a chance, I love to bake cookies and try new recipes.
At my convenience At my convenience, I work on my personal projects and creative writing.
When I’m off the clock When I’m off the clock, I dedicate my time to learning new languages.
During my off hours During my off hours, I participate in community events and workshops.
When I’m not busy When I’m not busy, I enjoy gardening and tending to my plants.
In my moments of leisure In my moments of leisure, I often reflect on my goals and aspirations.
When I’m at liberty When I’m at liberty, I travel to different cities and experience new cultures.
During my respite During my respite, I focus on activities that help me relax and recharge.
When I’m unoccupied When I’m unoccupied, I engage in creative pursuits like painting and drawing.
In my off time In my off time, I like to attend concerts and live music performances.
During my break During my break, I catch up on the news and current events.
When I’m free When I’m free, I visit museums and art galleries.
On my own time On my own time, I work on improving my coding skills.
When I have some downtime When I have some downtime, I enjoy spending time with my pets.
During my free hours During my free hours, I experiment with new cooking techniques.
Whenever I’m not committed Whenever I’m not committed, I practice playing the guitar.
When I have a moment to spare When I have a moment to spare, I write in my journal.
During my recess During my recess, I take a walk in the park.
When I’m not occupied When I’m not occupied, I read articles online.
In my relaxed moments In my relaxed moments, I watch comedies.
When I have a breather When I have a breather, I meditate.
During my pause During my pause, I listen to a podcast.

Hobby-Specific Examples

This table provides examples of phrases that are used to describe specific hobbies and interests that one pursues during their free time. These phrases add detail and personality to the description.

Alternative Phrase Example Sentence
For fun For fun, I enjoy playing the piano and composing my own music.
As a hobby As a hobby, I collect vintage stamps from around the world.
To unwind To unwind, I often take long walks in nature and listen to the birds.
For recreation For recreation, I participate in local sports leagues like volleyball and basketball.
As a pastime As a pastime, I enjoy knitting scarves and hats for my friends and family.
To relax To relax, I like to paint landscapes and still life scenes.
As a leisure activity As a leisure activity, I practice yoga and meditation to improve my well-being.
For enjoyment For enjoyment, I read science fiction novels and explore new worlds.
To keep myself entertained To keep myself entertained, I solve puzzles and play strategy games.
For personal enrichment For personal enrichment, I attend workshops and lectures on various topics.
To pursue my interests To pursue my interests, I research historical events and write articles about them.
To indulge my passions To indulge my passions, I cook gourmet meals and host dinner parties.
For creative expression For creative expression, I write poetry and short stories.
To stay active To stay active, I go swimming and cycling regularly.
To challenge myself To challenge myself, I learn new programming languages and develop software applications.
For intellectual stimulation For intellectual stimulation, I read philosophy and engage in debates.
To connect with nature To connect with nature, I go hiking and camping in the mountains.
For artistic fulfillment For artistic fulfillment, I sculpt clay figurines and create pottery.
To improve my skills To improve my skills, I practice playing the guitar and take music lessons.
To broaden my horizons To broaden my horizons, I travel to new countries and learn about different cultures.
To satisfy my curiosity To satisfy my curiosity, I research scientific topics and conduct experiments.
For self-improvement For self-improvement, I read self-help books and attend personal development seminars.
To express my creativity To express my creativity, I design and create my own clothing.
To explore my talents To explore my talents, I participate in acting workshops and perform in local theater productions.
To unwind and de-stress To unwind and de-stress, I practice mindfulness and meditation.
For relaxation and enjoyment For relaxation and enjoyment, I watch movies and TV shows.
To keep my mind sharp To keep my mind sharp, I solve crossword puzzles and play brain games.
To foster my imagination To foster my imagination, I read fantasy novels and write my own stories.
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Time-Specific Examples

This table provides examples of phrases that include the time of day when the activity is typically performed. This adds context and specificity to the description.

Alternative Phrase Example Sentence
In the evenings In the evenings, I like to relax with a cup of tea and read a book.
On weekend mornings On weekend mornings, I enjoy going for a run in the park.
Late at night Late at night, I often write in my journal and reflect on the day.
During my lunch break During my lunch break, I usually catch up on the news or listen to a podcast.
Early in the morning Early in the morning, I practice yoga to start my day with energy.
In the afternoons In the afternoons, I work on my personal projects and creative writing.
On Sunday afternoons On Sunday afternoons, I visit my grandparents and spend time with them.
After work After work, I go to the gym and workout to relieve stress.
Before bed Before bed, I read a few chapters of a novel to unwind.
During my commute During my commute, I listen to audiobooks and learn new things.
On Saturday evenings On Saturday evenings, I go out with friends or attend cultural events.
Early on weekdays Early on weekdays, I meditate to set a positive tone for the day.
In the twilight hours In the twilight hours, I enjoy taking photographs of the sunset.
On holiday mornings On holiday mornings, I cook a special breakfast for my family.
Late on Friday nights Late on Friday nights, I watch movies with my friends.
During my coffee breaks During my coffee breaks, I chat with colleagues and relax.
On summer evenings On summer evenings, I sit on the porch and enjoy the cool breeze.
Early on Sunday mornings Early on Sunday mornings, I volunteer at the local community center.
In the quiet hours In the quiet hours, I practice mindfulness and meditation.
On weekday afternoons On weekday afternoons, I take a walk in the park.
Late on weekend nights Late on weekend nights, I reflect on the week.
During my study breaks During my study breaks, I listen to music.
On cool autumn evenings On cool autumn evenings, I make a fire and read.
Early on snowy mornings Early on snowy mornings, I shovel the driveway.
In the peaceful hours In the peaceful hours, I practice yoga.
On warm spring afternoons On warm spring afternoons, I have a picnic.
Late on stormy nights Late on stormy nights, I watch scary movies.
During my tea breaks During my tea breaks, I catch up with friends.

Occasional Activity Examples

This table presents phrases that describe activities that happen sporadically or infrequently, rather than on a regular basis. These phrases emphasize the occasional nature of the activity.

Alternative Phrase Example Sentence
Every now and then Every now and then, I enjoy going to the theater to see a play.
Once in a while Once in a while, I like to try new restaurants and cuisines.
From time to time From time to time, I visit art galleries and museums to appreciate art.
Occasionally Occasionally, I go hiking in the mountains to connect with nature.
On occasion On occasion, I attend concerts and live music performances.
When the mood strikes When the mood strikes, I write poetry and short stories.
If I get the chance If I get the chance, I travel to new cities and explore different cultures.
When I feel like it When I feel like it, I bake cookies and share them with my neighbors.
Now and again Now and again, I participate in local community events and volunteer activities.
At times At times, I enjoy stargazing and learning about astronomy.
Every so often Every so often, I visit the library and borrow new books to read.
On the odd occasion On the odd occasion, I go fishing and enjoy the tranquility of nature.
When I have the inclination When I have the inclination, I paint landscapes and create art.
If the opportunity arises If the opportunity arises, I attend workshops and seminars to learn new skills.
When I’m in the spirit When I’m in the spirit, I host dinner parties and entertain friends.
Provided I have the time Provided I have the time, I engage in creative DIY projects.
When I’m so inclined When I’m so inclined, I explore new culinary recipes.
If I have the luxury If I have the luxury, I schedule a massage.
Given the chance Given the chance, I like to visit the botanical gardens.
When the moment presents itself When the moment presents itself, I try to meditate.
Should the opportunity arise Should the opportunity arise, I enjoy wine tasting.
If I’m able to If I’m able to, I donate to charity.
When it suits me When it suits me, I indulge in a spa day.
If I find the time If I find the time, I volunteer at a soup kitchen.
When I can spare the time When I can spare the time, I visit the zoo.
Should I have the chance Should I have the chance, I attend an opera.
If I get around to it If I get around to it, I like to do some gardening.
When the situation allows When the situation allows, I partake in outdoor sports.

Routine Activity Examples

This table offers phrases to describe activities that are part of a regular, consistent free-time routine. These phrases emphasize the habitual nature of the activity.

Alternative Phrase Example Sentence
Regularly Regularly, I go to the gym to stay in shape.
Typically Typically, I spend my evenings reading books and relaxing.
Usually Usually, I take a walk in the park on weekend mornings.
Frequently Frequently, I practice playing the guitar to improve my skills.
Often Often, I cook healthy meals and try new recipes.
As a rule As a rule, I meditate for 15 minutes every morning.
On a regular basis On a regular basis, I attend yoga classes to improve my flexibility.
As a matter of routine As a matter of routine, I write in my journal before going to bed.
In my daily routine In my daily routine, I dedicate some time to learning new things.
As a habit As a habit, I listen to podcasts during my commute.
On a weekly basis On a weekly basis, I volunteer at the local animal shelter.
As part of my schedule As part of my schedule, I allocate time for personal projects.
On a consistent basis On a consistent basis, I engage in creative writing exercises.
As a regular activity As a regular activity, I visit the library and borrow books.
In my normal routine In my normal routine, I spend time outdoors and connect with nature.
By custom By custom, I engage in a bit of self-care.
In my usual way In my usual way, I try to stimulate my mind.
Per usual Per usual, I play a round of golf.
Scheduled Scheduled, I have my book club meeting.
Commonly Commonly, I prepare a nice meal.
On a set day On a set day, I go to the farmers market.
Each week Each week, I find a new hobby.
Each month Each month, I visit a museum.
Every morning Every morning, I do a crossword puzzle.
Every evening Every evening, I watch a movie.
Daily Daily, I read to my children.
Monthly Monthly, I meet with friends.
Annually Annually, I take a vacation.

Usage Rules

When using alternatives to “in my spare time,” it’s important to consider the context and the specific nuance you want to convey. Here are some general rules to follow:

  1. Choose the right level of formality: Some phrases, like “during my leisure time,” are more formal than others, such as “when I have time.” Select the phrase that is appropriate for the situation.
  2. Be specific when necessary: If you want to highlight a particular hobby or interest, use phrases that are specific to those activities. For example, “for fun, I enjoy playing the guitar” is more informative than “in my free time, I do things.”
  3. Consider the time of day: If the time of day is relevant, use phrases that include it, such as “in the evenings” or “on weekend mornings.”
  4. Use occasional phrases sparingly: Phrases like “every now and then” should be used when the activity is not a regular part of your routine.
  5. Ensure grammatical correctness: Make sure that the phrase you choose fits grammatically into the sentence. For example, “I regularly go to the gym” is correct, while “I regular go to the gym” is not.
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Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes that English learners make when using alternatives to “in my spare time,” along with corrections:

Incorrect Correct Explanation
During my free, I like to read. During my free time, I like to read. The adjective “free” needs to be followed by the noun “time.”
When I have times, I go hiking. When I have time, I go hiking. “Time” is an uncountable noun in this context and does not need to be pluralized.
In my leisure, I enjoy painting. During my leisure time, I enjoy painting. “Leisure” needs to be followed by “time” to form the correct phrase.
For fun, I am play guitar. For fun, I play guitar. The verb “play” should be in the simple present tense.
To relax, I am often taking walks. To relax, I often take walks. The verb “take” should be in the simple present tense.
On weekend mornings, I am usually going to the gym. On weekend mornings, I usually go to the gym. The verb “go” should be in the simple present tense.
Every now and then, I am visiting my family. Every now and then, I visit my family. The verb “visit” should be in the simple present tense.
Regular, I go swimming. Regularly, I go swimming. The adverb “regularly” is needed to modify the verb “go.”
As habit, I read before bed. As a habit, I read before bed. The article “a” is needed before “habit.”
At the my convenience, I work on projects. At my convenience, I work on projects. The possessive pronoun “my” is needed instead of “the.”

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of the alternative phrases with these exercises.

Exercise 1: Sentence Completion

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate alternative to “in my spare time.”

Question Answer
1. __________, I enjoy playing the piano. 1. In my free time, I enjoy playing the piano.
2. __________, I try to catch up with friends. 2. When I have time, I try to catch up with friends.
3. __________, I like to explore new hiking trails. 3. During my leisure time, I like to explore new hiking trails.
4. __________, I often listen to music. 4. In my downtime, I often listen to music.
5. __________, I volunteer at the local shelter. 5. When I’m not working, I volunteer at the local shelter.
6. __________, I usually sleep in and then go for a walk. 6. On my days off, I usually sleep in and then go for a walk.
7. __________, I love to bake cookies. 7. When I get a chance, I love to bake cookies.
8. __________, I work on my personal projects. 8. At my convenience, I work on my personal projects.
9. __________, I dedicate my time to learning new languages. 9. When I’m off the clock, I dedicate my time to learning new languages.
10. __________, I participate in community events. 10. During my off hours, I participate in community events.

Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation

Rewrite the following sentences using an alternative to “in my spare time” that adds more detail to the activity.

Original Sentence Rewritten Sentence
1. In my spare time, I play music. 1. For fun, I enjoy playing the piano and composing my own music.
2. In my spare time, I collect things. 2. As a hobby, I collect vintage stamps from around the world.
3. In my spare time, I walk. 3. To unwind, I often take long walks in nature and listen to the birds.
4. In my spare time, I play sports. 4. For recreation, I participate in local sports leagues like volleyball and basketball.
5. In my spare time, I create things. 5. As a pastime, I enjoy knitting scarves and hats for my friends and family.
6. In my spare time, I paint. 6. To relax, I like to paint landscapes and still life scenes.
7. In my spare time, I exercise. 7. As a leisure activity, I practice yoga and meditation to improve my well-being.
8. In my spare time, I read. 8. For enjoyment, I read science fiction novels and explore new worlds.
9. In my spare time, I solve puzzles. 9. To keep myself entertained, I solve puzzles and play strategy games.
10. In my spare time, I attend lectures. 10. For personal enrichment, I attend workshops and lectures on various topics.

Exercise 3: Paragraph Writing

Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) describing what you do in your free time, using at least five different alternatives to “in my spare time.”

Example: In my free time, I love to explore new coffee shops and try different blends. On weekend mornings, I usually go for a run in the park to stay active. For fun, I enjoy playing the guitar and learning new songs. Every now and then, I visit art galleries and museums to appreciate different forms of art. To unwind after a long day, I often read a good book and relax with a cup of tea. These activities help me stay balanced and happy.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, exploring the nuances of these alternative phrases can further enhance their communication skills. Consider the following:

  • Figurative Language: Explore how these phrases can be used metaphorically or idiomatically to add depth to your writing.
  • Cultural Context: Investigate how cultural differences influence the perception and expression of free time activities.
  • Register and Tone: Analyze how the choice of phrase affects the overall tone and register of your communication.

FAQ

Q: Are there any regional differences in the usage of these phrases?
A: Yes, some phrases may be more common in certain regions or dialects. For example, “in my downtime” might be more frequently used in North America, while “during my leisure time” might be preferred in British English.
Q: Can I use these phrases interchangeably in all situations?
A: While many of these phrases are similar in meaning, it’s important to consider the context and the specific nuance you want to convey. Some phrases are more formal than others, and some are more specific to certain activities or times of day.
Q: How can I improve my vocabulary related to free time activities?
A: Read widely, listen to native speakers, and pay attention to the phrases they use. Keep a vocabulary notebook and record new expressions along with their meanings and example sentences. Practice using these phrases in your own writing and speaking.
Q: Are there any phrases I should avoid using?
A: Avoid using overly informal or slang terms in formal situations. Also, be mindful of phrases that might be considered cliché or overused. Opt for fresh and original expressions that reflect your personality and interests.
Q: How can I make my descriptions of free time activities more engaging?
A: Use vivid language, provide specific details, and share personal anecdotes. Instead of simply saying “I like to read,” you could say “I love to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea on a rainy afternoon.” This adds depth and personality to your description.

Conclusion

Mastering alternative expressions for “in my spare time” is an invaluable asset for English language learners. By expanding your vocabulary and understanding the nuances of these phrases, you can communicate more effectively, express yourself more authentically, and connect with others on a deeper level.

Whether you’re discussing your hobbies, sharing your passions, or simply describing your daily routine, these alternative phrases will help you articulate your thoughts with greater precision and flair. So, embrace these expressions, practice using them in your own writing and speaking, and watch your communication skills soar.

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